Fox attacks - a list of what happened?

[Lynne]

Since having the cube I have noticed that my chooks have dirty bums This seems to be because the trays do not have much space underneath the roosting bars and their backside feathers must slip through. I have to clean the trays every day. This wasn't the case when they were in a wooden coop as the roosting bars were higher up and I used to put enough shavings on the floor so that cleaning was every couple of days. The bars also get really dirty. I haven't go around to spraying them with the plastic paint stuff yet. Does anyone get similar problems? Do you all clean your cube out every day?

[The Dogmother]

Nope, I empty the poo tray every 3-4 days. 10 bantams sleep in my eglu!

[Lynne]

Are they trays quite dirty though Claire, or is it just mine?!!

[The Dogmother]

Not especially - I use Hemcore in the poo tray and it has lots of poo in it, but the Hemcore dries it out so there's no wet poo for them to dunk their botties in.

 

I'm trying (and failing) to picture your set-up, but perhaps their poo is a bit runny and a look at their diet would work wonders - they might need less veggies or treats and more Bokashi bran in their diet to keep the poo firm.

[Lynne]

I'll try the Hemcore. No, their poo is not runny, it's firm and normal but they are large chickens (Bluebells) which probably doesn't help as they do large poos!! It is often stuck on the bars too (too big to fall through the bars - too much information I know!) so this is probably where the problem arises. I really love the cube but this is the only thing that makes me prefer the the original coop. I just didn't have a problem before.

[The Dogmother]

Aaaahh, I see.

 

Have you thought about doing a slight re-jig on the roosting bars and taking out alternate bars? It should still remain stable, but the bigger spaces would leave more room for their 'eagle poo' to drop through.

 

Let us know what you decide to do.

[Lynne]

Excellent idea!!!

[Olly]

Interesting you say that - I have a Speckledy, who is a BIG bird compared to the Omlet gingernuts, and I've noticed that her poo sits on the bars rather than falling through (although I have an Eglu, not a Cube). Cleaning the other Eglu, with only two gingernuts in, is much much easier.

 

I guess big chickens do big poos, and that's all there is to it!

[Christian]

I use a paint s"Ooops, word censored!"er to knock the poos through the bars.

 

Ok, too much information

 

I'll get my coat.......

[redfrock]

i have just sat here nodding and agreeing to all the gi-normous poo posts Some of mine do poos bigger than eggs and I do the same as you Christian

[Goosey Lucy]

Redfrock said:

I do the same as you Christian

 

Not sure about going to a gathering now, if everyone knows such details about everyone else!

 

I'm suddenly feeling very shy and self-conscious!

[redfrock]

Redfrock said:

I do the same as you Christian

 

Not sure about going to a gathering now, if everyone knows such details about everyone else!

 

I'm suddenly feeling very shy and self-conscious!

 

oops! yes, reading that again, it doesn't read exactly right does it!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

My name's Vicki and I push poos through the bars too .

[Goosey Lucy]

Vicki said

My name's Vicki and I push poos through the bars too

 

OMG this is turning into a meeting of Poo Pushers anonymous!

 

I'm going back to my ironing

[Snowy]

Aww, go on Lucy, you know you want too really ... Push that poo!

[Lynne]

I'm a poo pusher too

[buffie]

I'll have to try that

 

i've got brahma and cochin in the cube and no dirty bottoms, that's a lot of large poops

 

BBx

[Egluntyne]

Not sure about going to a gathering now, if everyone knows such details about everyone else!

 

I'm suddenly feeling very shy and self-conscious!

 

We'll all point and whisper "Isn't she the one who......"

[The Dogmother]

You've all made me laugh this morning.

 

We'll all point and whisper "Isn't she the one who......"

 

Makes a change from you all doing it to me then

 

Do you remember the thread about going commando? That made us look at a few of our friends in a different light I suspect